Locking ratchet base

ABSTRACT

A ratcheting mounting device has a substantially rigid base that is formed with a receptor surface projected above a foot portion that is structured with one or more through holes for securing the base to an external surface such as a floor or wall; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler that is formed with an insertion surface and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage thereto; a plurality of cooperating truncated pyramid-shaped teeth and sockets arranged between the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and a clamping mechanism that is structured for constraining the respective receptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. NPI-032) entitled, “LOCKING RATCHETBASE,” filed in the name of Jeffrey D. Carnevali on the same dateherewith via USPS “Express Mail” Mailing Label Number: ED 259 545 621US, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mechanical mounting device, and inparticular to a secure ratcheting mounting device for supportingexternal objects relative to a fixed platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Universal mounting devices are known for providing a positionablemounting platform in different air, land and marine vehicles. Theseuniversally positionable mounting platforms are typically structured tosupport a wide variety of mobile devices, such as cellular telephones,portable global positioning system (GPS) receivers, notebook computers,Personal Digital Accessories (PDAs) and other mobile devices. Howeversecure such known universally positionable mounting platforms are, todate these positionable mounting platforms have been known to be limitedin load carrying capabilities.

FIG. 1, for example, illustrates one such universal mounting device 1that provides positionable mounting platform 2. As shown here anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety, universal mounting device 1 is founded on a base3 that is secured to a fixed surface with a quantity of screws or otherfasteners 4. A partial sphere 5 of resiliently compressible material ispresented on a post 6 for access by a pair of clamping arms 7 thattogether form a socket that is positionally secured relative to thepartial sphere 5 when a clamping mechanism 8 is tightened. Thepositionable mounting platform 2 is presented on a second sphere 9 ofresiliently compressible material that is captured in a second socketformed at the opposite end of the clamping arms 7 and relativelypositionally secured by increased tightening of the clamping mechanism8. The positionable mounting platform 2 (shown without features) isoptionally structured to support any of the above variety of mobiledevices or another device or structure of the user's choice.

However, the universally positionable mounting platform shown here anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885 would have to be of ungainly sizeto support some very large loads, for example, loads applied at the endof a two or three foot lever arm. Therefore, a novel mechanical mountingdevice for supporting such extreme loads is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the manufacturing and load capacitylimitations of the prior art by providing a ratcheting mounting devicehaving a substantially rigid base that is formed with a firstsubstantially planar receptor surface projected above a foot portionthat is structured with one or more through holes for securing the baseto an external surface such as a floor or wall; a substantially rigidratcheting coupler that is formed with a second substantially planarinsertion surface and an appendage coupler for securing an appendagethereto; a plurality of cooperating truncated pyramid-shaped teeth andsockets arranged between the respective receptor and insertion surfacesof the base and ratcheting coupler for orienting the surface of theratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base in differentstepwise angular orientations, and a clamping mechanism that isstructured for constraining the respective receptor and insertionsurfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler in different angularrelationships.

According to one aspect of the invention, the clamping mechanism isstructured as a threaded member for compressing the insertion surface ofthe ratcheting coupler against the receptor surface of the base.Optionally, a compression spring is positioned between the respectivereceptor and insertion surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler forbiasing the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler away from thereceptor surface of the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the plurality ofcooperating teeth and sockets are spaced at cooperating angularintervals in first and second matching substantially circular patterns.Optionally, the number of teeth is the same or less than as the numberof sockets.

According to another aspect of the invention, the foot portion of thebase optionally secures the receptor surface in an upright orperpendicular orientation relative to the external surface.

According to another aspect of the invention, the appendage coupler forsecuring an appendage to the ratcheting coupler includes a cinchingmechanism that is structured for cinching an appendage in a parallelarrangement with the insertion surface of the ratcheting coupler.

According to another aspect of the invention, the ratcheting mountingdevice further includes an elongated appendage cinched by the cinchingmechanism in a parallel arrangement with the insertion surface of theratcheting coupler. According to another aspect of the inventionincluding the appendage, a mounting platform is provided at an end ofthe appendage distal from the ratcheting coupler. Optionally, themounting platform at the distal end of the appendage is structured as apartial sphere of resiliently compressible material.

Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates one known universal mounting device described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,845,885;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present invention byexample and without limitation embodied as a ratcheting mounting device;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a base portion of the ratcheting mountingdevice according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a ratcheting coupler portion of the ratchetingmounting device according to one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of the ratchetingmounting device illustrated in FIG. 2 that illustrates mating of theratcheting coupler portion with the base portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view that illustrates the present invention byexample and without limitation embodied as a ratcheting mounting device10 having a base 12 with a ratcheting coupler 14 secured thereto by acoupler clamping mechanism 16. The ratcheting coupler 14 includes anappendage coupler 18 that operates as a means for securing an elongatedand substantially cylindrical appendage A in a ratcheting rotationalrelationship to the base 12. The appendage coupler 18 includes anappendage clamping mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A to the base12 through the ratcheting coupler 14. A universal mounting device 1 ofthe type illustrated in FIG. 1 is optionally coupled to an end A_(d) ofthe appendage A distal from the ratcheting mounting device 10, while aproximal end A_(P) of the appendage A is coupled to the ratchetingmounting device 10 through the appendage coupler 18. For example, thedistal end A_(d) of the appendage A operates as the base 3, whereby thepost 6 is mounted on the distal end A_(d) of the appendage A forpresenting the partial sphere 5 of resiliently compressible material foraccess by the pair of clamping arms 7 of the universal mounting device1, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the base 12 according to one embodiment of theinvention. The base 12 is formed of a strong and substantially rigidmaterial, such as metal or rigid plastic, and according to oneembodiment of the invention, is formed as an single integral unit, as byconventional machining, forging, casting or injection moldingtechniques. According to one embodiment of the invention, the base 12includes a foot 22 structured with multiple apertures 24 (shown in FIGS.2 and 5) pierced with fasteners 25 that operate as a means for securingthe base 12 to a floor, wall or other external surface E for operationof the ratcheting mounting device 10 in for supporting external objectsrelative to a fixed platform. A female receptor 26 is projected from thefoot 22 having a substantially planar upright receptor face 28 that isoriented crosswise to the floor or other external surface E by the foot22. For example, according to one embodiment of the invention, multiplegussets 30 operate as a means for supporting the receptor 26 relative tothe foot 22 with the receptor face 28 oriented in an upright mannercrosswise to the external surface E. The receptor 26 includes multiplefemale sockets 32 recessed relative to the receptor face 28 andsubstantially uniformly spaced by a selected angle α at regular angularintervals I in a substantially circular pattern P_(S). According to oneembodiment of the invention, the individual female sockets 32 are formedwith interior wall surfaces 33 that are angularly inclined inwardly fromthe receptor face 28 in a truncated inverse pyramidal shape. Asubstantially cylindrical aperture 34 is formed completely through thereceptor 26 at substantially the center of the circular pattern P_(S) ofthe recessed sockets 32. The aperture 34 is aligned substantiallyperpendicular to the receptor face 28. The functions of the recessedsockets 32 and aperture 34 are described herein below.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the ratcheting coupler 14 according to oneembodiment of the invention. The ratcheting coupler 14 is formed of astrong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigid plastic,and according to one embodiment of the invention, is formed as an singleintegral unit, as by conventional machining, forging, casting orinjection molding techniques. According to one embodiment of theinvention, the ratcheting coupler 14 includes a hub 36 having asubstantially planar insertion face 38 which includes multiple maleteeth 40 projected therefrom. The multiple male teeth 40 are sized andshaped to be received into and mate with the female sockets 32 in thereceptor face 28 of the female receptor 26. According to one embodimentof the invention, when the individual female sockets 32 of the femalereceptor 26 are formed with interior surfaces 33 that are angularlyinclined inwardly from the receptor face 28 in a truncated inversepyramidal shape, as described herein, the mating male teeth 40 areformed with exterior wall surfaces 41 that are angularly inclinedoutwardly from the insertion face 38 in a truncated pyramidal shape thatis sized to mate with and substantially fill the inverse pyramidal shapeof the female sockets 32. The multiple male teeth 40 are arranged in asubstantially circular pattern P_(C) that is substantially matched tothe circular pattern P_(S) of the recessed sockets 32 in the receptorface 28 of the female receptor 26. The multiple male teeth 40 areoptionally substantially uniformly spaced by the same selected angle αas the recessed sockets 32 at the same regular angular intervals I ofthe recessed sockets 32 about the circular pattern P_(C) that matchesthe circular pattern P_(S) of the recessed sockets 32. Alternatively, asshown, the pattern P_(C) of teeth 40 is broken at intervals such thatthe teeth 40 are arranged in multiple clusters 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, through42 n in the circular pattern P_(C), with each of the clusters 42 athrough 42 n having as few as one or more than one of the male teeth 40.Adjacent clusters 42 a, 42 b are angularly spaced by an angle b that isan integer multiple of the angle α separating the individual sockets 32,as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the individual male teeth 40are angularly spaced on the circular pattern P_(C) at the angle b thatis a multiple of the angle α separating adjacent female sockets 32 onthe receptor face 28.

Accordingly, the male teeth 40 are structured to enter different ones ofthe female sockets 32 in different angular rotations of the insertionface 38 relative to the receptor face 28 of the base 12. Stateddifferently, the matching circular arrangements P_(S) and P_(C) offemale sockets 32 and male teeth 40 are structured such that the maleteeth 40 fit into the female sockets 32 at any of many differentangularly rotated steps at regular angular intervals I around the face28 of the receptor 26. As such, the matching circular arrangements P_(S)and P_(C) of female sockets 32 and male teeth 40 cooperate to provide ameans for orienting the insertion face 38 relative to the receptor face28 in different prescribed angular orientations in stepwise fashion,wherein the steps between different angularly adjacent orientations isprescribed by the angle α of the intervals I between adjacent femalesockets 32 on the receptor face 28.

Radially enlarging the circular patterns P_(S) and P_(C) spaces thesockets 32 and teeth 40 from the centers of the circular patterns P_(S)and P_(C), which increases the holding strength of the ratchetingmounting device 10 by increasing the lever arm at which the cooperatingsockets 32 and teeth 40 operate. Radially enlarging the circularpatterns P_(S) and P_(C) and spacing the sockets 32 and teeth 40 furtherfrom the circular centers also increases the number of intervals I atwhich the cooperating sockets 32 and teeth 40 can be placed byincreasing the linear distance between adjacent angular positions. Inother words, the sockets 32 can be positioned closer together withoutbreaking into one another when their circular pattern P_(S) is larger,and therefore, more of the sockets 32 can be emplaced, and the angle αof the angular intervals I between them made smaller. The size of thematching circular pattern P_(C) of teeth 40 must also increase to amatching size with the circular pattern P_(S), but the quantity ofcooperating teeth 40 does not have to increase to take advantage of thelarger quantity of sockets 32 at narrower angular intervals I fordecreasing the proscribed angular intervals α between differentangularly adjacent orientations of the insertion face 38 relative to thereceptor face 28. Accordingly, the ratcheting coupler 14 can be rotatedbetween the different prescribed angles α relative to the receptor 26and to the floor or other external surface E through the receptor 26 andfoot 22 of the base 12 by moving the teeth 40 to different ones of thesockets 32.

A substantially cylindrical aperture 43 is formed completely through thehub 36 at substantially the center of the circular pattern P_(C) of theprojected male teeth 40. The aperture 43 is aligned substantiallyperpendicular to the substantially planar insertion face 38. Thesubstantially cylindrical aperture 43 functions in combination with theaperture 34 through the receptor 26 portion of the base 12 for clampingthe planar insertion face 38 securely against the receptor face 28 withthe male teeth 40 inserted into different ones of the recessed sockets32 to constrain the ratcheting coupler 14 in a selected angularrelationship with the base 12 by means of the coupler clamping mechanism16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. For example, according to one embodimentof the invention, the cylindrical apertures 34 and 43 are matchingclearance holes for a threaded fastener 66 (shown in FIG. 5) thatoperates as part of the coupler clamping mechanism 16 for clamping theratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12.

The appendage coupler 18 of the ratcheting coupler 14 operates as ameans for securing the appendage A (shown in FIG. 2) in a ratchetingrotational relationship to the base 12 through the male teeth 40 matinginto the female sockets 32 in the face 28 of the receptor 26. Theappendage coupler 18 extends from the hub 36 at any convenient angle,including substantially perpendicular, as shown. By example and withoutlimitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, the appendagecoupler 18 includes an optionally open-ended tubular female sleeve 44structured to receive the substantially cylindrical appendage Astructured as a rod or tube, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tubularsleeve 44 is bottomed by a seat 46 that operates as a stop for theappendage A. The appendage coupler 18 also includes the appendageclamping mechanism 20 for securing the appendage A. By example andwithout limitation, according to one embodiment of the invention, theappendage clamping mechanism 20 is a part-tubular extension 48 of thetubular sleeve 44 projected away from the hub 36. A part-tubularcincture 50 extends from a longitudinal edge surface 52 of thepart-tubular extension 48 to substantially enclose the tubular space 54defined by the part-tubular extension 48. A cinching mechanism or clasp56 is provided as a means for cinching the part-tubular cincture 50against the part-tubular extension 48 to secure the proximal end A_(P)of the appendage A within the tubular space 54. For example, a pair ofarms 58, 60 operate as the means for cinching the part-tubular cincture50 against the part-tubular extension 48. The first arm 58 projects fromthe part-tubular cincture 50 slightly spaced away from the second arm 60that projects from the part-tubular extension 48 peripheral to thetubular space 54. A fastener 61 (shown in FIG. 2) operates throughmatching apertures 62, 64 through the respective arms 58, 60 to cinchthe arms 58, 60 toward one another across the small space there between.By cinching the arms 58, 60 toward one another, the fastener 61 reducesthe inside diameter of the tubular space 54 to secure the proximal endA_(P) of the cylindrical appendage A. According to one embodiment of theinvention, one aperture 62 (or 64) of the first and second matchingapertures 62, 64 is a clearance hole sized to pass the fastener 61, andthe other aperture 64 (or 62) is an internally threaded aperture sizedto threadedly engage the fastener 61. Alternatively, both the first andsecond matching apertures 62, 64 are structured as clearance holes sizedto pass the fastener 61, and the fastener 61 is operated with a threadednut.

FIG. 5 is an exploded pictorial view of the ratcheting mounting device10 that illustrates mating of the ratcheting coupler 14 with the base12. Accordingly, the upright receptor face 28 and insertion face 38 aremutually parallel with one another and oriented substantiallyperpendicular to a line of contact L_(C). The multiple female sockets 32and multiple male teeth 40 are directed opposite to one another alongthe line of contact L_(C). As discussed herein, the circular patternP_(C) of teeth 40 is matched, i.e., substantially identical, to thecircular pattern P_(S) of the recessed sockets 32. Furthermore, theindividual male teeth 40 are structured to be received into and matesnugly with each of the different female sockets 32. Accordingly, whenthe multiple teeth 40 on the insertion face 38 are introduced into thesockets 32 on the receptor face 28, the ratcheting coupler 14 isangularly fixed relative to the base 12. The coupler clamping mechanism16 applies an axial load or force F_(C) along the line of contact L_(C)that forces the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptorface 28 of the receptor 26. Because the pyramidal shape of the maleteeth 40 matches and substantially fill the inverse pyramidal shape ofthe female sockets 32, when the male teeth 40 mated with the femalesockets 32 under the axial force F_(C) applied along the line of contactL_(C), the ratcheting coupler 14 is secured in substantially fixedangular relationship with the receptor 26. Accordingly, the appendage Acannot be rotated relative to the base 12 and the external surface E towhich the foot 22 of the base 12 is attached, without either breakingall the teeth 40 from the insertion face 38, or separating theratcheting coupler 14 from the receptor 26. The first is next toimpossible because the base 12 and ratcheting coupler 14 are both formedof strong and substantially rigid material, such as metal or rigidplastic, and the second is also next to impossible because the base 12and ratcheting coupler 14 are securely forced together under the loadF_(C) applied by the coupler clamping mechanism 16.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupler clampingmechanism 16 includes the threaded fastener 66 for clamping theratcheting coupler 14 to the base 12. The threaded fastener 66 is, forexample, a male threaded member, such as a bolt, stud or rod, that isprojected perpendicularly from the insertion face 38 along the line ofcontact L_(C). When the threaded fastener 66 is a stud, the aperture 34through the receptor 26 is a threaded aperture structured to receive andretain the stud-type threaded fastener 66 with a threaded shaft 67projected from the receptor face 28 along the line of contact L_(C).Alternatively, the aperture 34 is eliminated, and the threaded shaftportion 67 of the stud-type threaded fastener 66 is projected out of theinsertion surface 38, as by being originally formed as an integral partof the receptor 26, or as being welded or otherwise fixed to theinsertion surface 38. When the threaded fastener 66 is a bolt, thethreaded shaft 67 of the bolt-type threaded fastener 66 is sized to passthrough the aperture 34, and the bolt-type threaded fastener 66 includesa head 68 that is oversize relative to the aperture 34 for beingconstrained thereby on an opposite side 70 of the receptor 26 from thereceptor face 28.

The coupler clamping mechanism 16 also includes a knob 72 (shown in FIG.2) having an internally threaded bore 74 structured for threadedlyengaging the threaded shaft 67 of the threaded fastener 66. The knob 72is turnable by hand for operating in combination with the threadedfastener 66 as a means for applying the axial force F_(C) that forcesthe insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptor face 28 of thereceptor 26 along the line of contact L_(C). Under the axial force F_(C)each of the male teeth 40 is unable to move relative to the matingsockets 32, and in-turn the ratcheting coupler 14 is forciblyconstrained against angular rotation relative to the receptor 26 andbase 12 which is constrained relative to the floor or other externalsurface E by means of the fasteners 25 through the foot 22, as shown inFIG. 2.

Other means for applying the axial force F_(C), such as a cam device,are also known and are considered to be equivalent to the couplerclamping mechanism 16 described herein for practicing the invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a coil or othercompression spring 76 is provided between the ratcheting coupler 14 andthe base 12 as a means for biasing the hub 36 away from the receptor 26,and thereby separating the insertion face 38 from the receptor face 28and retrieving the teeth 40 from the sockets 32 when the couplerclamping mechanism 16 is operated in reverse to remove the axial forceF_(C). When the compression spring 76 is provided as a coil or othertubular spring device, it is optionally sized to fit over the shaft 67of the threaded fastener 66 as a means for retaining the spring 76within the assembly of the ratcheting mounting device 10 during manualrotation and reorientation of the ratcheting coupler 14 relative to thebase 12.

Accordingly, the ratcheting mounting device 10 of the inventioneffectively supports remote external objects relative to a fixedplatform at a significant distance from the fixed platform.

According to different embodiments of the invention, the base 12,ratcheting coupler 14, coupler clamping mechanism 16, and appendagecoupler 18 are embodied with different structure to perform the samefunction to achieve the same result in substantially the same way. Forexample, the hub 36 portion of the ratcheting coupler 14 is formed withthe receptor face 28 with the sockets 32 formed therein, and thereceptor 26 portion of the base 12 is formed with the insertion face 38which includes multiple male teeth 40 projected therefrom. In anotherexample, the sockets 32 and teeth 40 are formed as cooperating truncatedconical structures. According to another example, coupler clampingmechanism 16 is a cam mechanism having the knob 72 structured to operatein concert with the shaft 67 for applying the axial force F_(C) thatcompresses the insertion face 38 of the hub 36 against the receptor face28 of the receptor 26 along the line of contact L_(C). In still anotherexample, the cinching mechanism 56 is replaced with a conventional setscrew in a threaded aperture aligned with the tubular space 54.Alternatively, the appendage coupler 18 is formed as a plate having aplurality of apertures for mounting the appendage A thereto by means offasteners operating through the apertures.

Accordingly, while the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changescan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, the inventor makes the following claims.

1. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising: a substantially rigid baseformed with a first substantially planar surface projected above a footportion structured with a means for securing the base to an externalsurface; a substantially rigid ratcheting coupler formed with a secondsubstantially planar surface and an appendage coupler for securing anappendage thereto; a plurality of cooperating teeth and sockets arrangedbetween the planar surfaces of the base and ratcheting coupler fororienting the surface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surfaceof the base in different stepwise angular orientations; and a clampingmechanism structured for constraining the planar surfaces of the baseand ratcheting coupler in different angular relationships.
 2. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the clamping mechanism further comprises a threadedmember for compressing the surface of the ratcheting coupler against thesurface of the base.
 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising aspring positioned for biasing the surface of the ratcheting coupler awayfrom the surface of the base.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein theplurality of cooperating teeth and sockets are further spaced atcooperating angular intervals in first and second matching substantiallycircular patterns.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the plurality ofteeth is less than the plurality of sockets.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein the means for securing the base to an external surface furthercomprises a means for securing the first substantially planar surface inan upright orientation relative to the external surface.
 7. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the appendage coupler further comprises a cinchingmechanism structured for cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangementwith the substantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7, further comprising an elongated appendage cinched bythe cinching mechanism in a parallel arrangement with the substantiallyplanar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
 9. The device of claim 8wherein the elongated appendage further comprises a mounting platform atan end thereof distal from the ratcheting coupler.
 10. The device ofclaim 9 wherein the mounting platform further comprises a partial sphereof resiliently compressible material.
 11. A ratcheting mounting device,comprising: a base formed with a first substantially planar surface, andbeing further formed with a means for securing the base to an externalsurface; a ratcheting coupler formed with a second substantially planarsurface, and being further formed with a means for securing anappendage; a means for orienting the surface of the ratcheting couplerrelative to the surface of the base in different stepwise angularorientations; and a means for constraining the ratcheting coupler in aselected angular relationship with the base.
 12. The device of claim 11wherein the means for constraining the ratcheting coupler in a selectedangular relationship with the base further comprises a means forcompressing the surface of the ratcheting coupler against the surface ofthe base.
 13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a means forbiasing the surface of the ratcheting coupler away from the surface ofthe base.
 14. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for orienting thesurface of the ratcheting coupler relative to the surface of the base indifferent stepwise angular orientations further comprises a plurality ofcooperating sockets and teeth operating between the surface of theratcheting coupler and the surface of the base with the sockets beingspaced at first angular intervals in a first substantially circularpattern and the teeth being spaced at second angular intervals in asecond substantially circular pattern that matches the first circularpattern.
 15. The device of claim 14 wherein the plurality of teeth isless than the plurality of sockets.
 16. The device of claim 11 whereinthe means for securing the base to an external surface further comprisesa means for securing the base in an upright orientation relative to theexternal surface.
 17. The device of claim 11 wherein the means forsecuring an appendage to the ratcheting coupler further comprises ameans for cinching an appendage in a parallel arrangement with thesubstantially planar surface of the ratcheting coupler.
 18. The deviceof claim 17, further comprises an elongated appendage cinched in aparallel arrangement with the substantially planar surface of theratcheting coupler.
 19. The device of claim 18 wherein the elongatedappendage further comprises a mounting platform at an end thereof distalfrom the ratcheting coupler.
 20. The device of claim 19 wherein themounting platform further comprises a partial sphere of resilientlycompressible material.
 21. A ratcheting mounting device, comprising: abase formed with a foot that is structured for securing the base to anexternal surface, and a receptor coupled to the foot and having asubstantially planar receptor face formed with a plurality of socketsarranged in a first circular pattern at uniform first intervals; aratcheting coupler having a substantially planar insertion face formedwith a plurality of teeth projecting therefrom and arranged in a secondcircular pattern that is substantially the same as the first circularpattern of sockets and at positions that correspond to the firstintervals, and an appendage coupler for securing an appendage in aratcheting rotational relationship to the base; and a coupler clampingmechanism structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the basewith the teeth inserted into the sockets.
 22. The device of claim 21wherein the plurality of teeth is less than the plurality of sockets.23. The device of claim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism isfurther structured for securing the ratcheting coupler to the base withthe teeth inserted into the sockets in different angular orientations ofthe insertion face relative to the receptor face.
 24. The device ofclaim 21 wherein the coupler clamping mechanism is further structuredfor applying an axial force along a line of contact that forces theinsertion face against the receptor face.
 25. The device of claim 21,further comprising an appendage secured by the appendage coupler.